Material found inside goats still a mystery: Cops

Weeks after the Coast Guard raided 436 crates of cigarettes, 30 goats, mobile phone accessories and two television sets from MSV Yusufi, a dhow, off Mumbai coast in the wee hours of April 3, the police are yet to ascertain the suspicious powdery material found inside the stomach of three goats that were found onboard the vessel.

Meanwhile, the custody of Gani Adam Charwadawla alias Usman Ghanchh, the alleged receiver of the consignment, has been extended by 4 days.

Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) authorities stated that they would take over a week's time to send the report about the material found from the goat's stomach to the police.

“We have just received the samples on Thursday and it should take us at least 8 – 10 days to conduct the test on the powder samples and send the report to the police,” said an officer from the FSL at Kalina. When questioned what the powder appeared to be, the official said that the powder was sent in sealed bottles, so it was difficult to find out what it was.

The five goats were operated upon on Tuesday, following which polythene packets were found in the stomach of three of them. The officials said the packets consisted of a black powdery substance that couldn’t be identified.